When we upgrade our bodies, we also secretly and quietly upgrade our minds.

I’ve never considered myself “muscular” or “strong” – but then again I’ve never considered myself “weak” either. These days I HAVE been doing some ‘considering’ on that matter. I’ve been going out of my way to make strides to become bigger, stronger and look more defined in general. The results have been personally pleasing so far (ask my girlfriend, I haven’t been able to shut up about it for weeks now), and I’m anxious to see what a few more months will bring.

Thanks to a recent Mark Sisson article about Gaining Lean Muscle Mass, I’ve been eating like a horse this week (which is a bullsh*t term in this case since Horses are pretty much vegetarians… but anyways I digress).

Due to his recommendations, I’ve been trying to get about 170+ grams of protein each day (1g for each pound of lean body mass), and trying to space it out during the day as well. I also keep my carbs as low as possible (from 0 – 30g daily), but I’d be doing that anyways regardless of training or protein intake.

All of this is in addition to my usual workout routine:

• Monday – Boxing Class
• Tuesday – Boxing Class then Weight Training (all muscle groups to “failure”)
• Wednesday (Recovery Day)
• Thursday (Recovery Day)
• Friday – Boxing Class then Weight Training (all muscle groups to “failure”)
• Saturday (Recovery Day)
• Sunday    (Recovery Day with some light stuff thrown in maybe – Hiking, etc.)

This amount of eating is in stark contrast to my previous eating habits on and around workout days – which was to fast all day until several hours AFTER the gym (2 or 3 hours later). Even though I have been progressively getting stronger since I started lifting, I figured that doing some intake / output experimentation for July wouldn’t be a bad thing. Since I always keep my carbs low, I don’t have to worry about GAINING any fat during this time of over-consumption – so what do I have to lose?

(besides money from buying ridiculous amounts of food, that is)

I have to point out that Mark’s article was meant for “hardgainers” – people that have a hard time putting on muscle no matter what they do. It raised a red flag for me only because, using his logic, it seems I’ve been greatly UNDER-nourishing my muscles (protein-wise) on days that I abuse them. Which begs the question, how much MORE muscle could I have gained by feeding them properly? We shall see, I’m not trying to look huge like the host of Ghost Adventures or anything (even though his arms are truly impressive – his wardrobe and haircut are another story), but I’m curious as to what my body is ultimately capable of in this area.

Self-improvement – isn’t that what its all about to begin with!

Its odd that as my self-confidence continues to grow I find myself exploring more and more interesting endeavors that years ago I wouldn’t have even considered (or even thought they were outright ridiculous). Its almost as if the more we upgrade our bodies, we sub-consciously upgrade our minds and ambitions too.

Take my Boxing Classes for example, not only is it physically demanding, but there is a certain amount of “social interaction” that has to take place with training – even when the classes are solely on a cardiovascular level. The old me, full of self-doubt, would never put himself in a position that he thought would make him look weak, unfit, and maybe just plain silly. Now I feel like taking on more and more things that would have been unthinkable previously – not because of the physical aspect either, but, because I FEEL like I can handle it, mentally.

Whats next? I’m not sure. I considered taking a run at Amateur Boxing this summer, then things got busy for me for a short period and the idea got shelved. But, the USA Boxing Amateur application is still on my passenger seat in my car, and I now know plenty of boxing trainers who are dying for students…

Time will tell, at the very least it would make for one hell of a story when I’m older.

What has weight loss done for you mentally that you didn’t expect?

(part of Fight Back Fridays – July 17th 2009)

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